Ted H. Kim, Associate Director Refugee, Asylum and International Operations Directorate for USCIS | https://www.naco.org/
Ted H. Kim, Associate Director Refugee, Asylum and International Operations Directorate for USCIS | https://www.naco.org/
Employers are classified under industries based on their reported operations and may be involved in multiple industries.
The H-1B visa program allows U.S. employers to temporarily hire foreign workers in specialty occupations requiring specialized knowledge and at least a bachelor’s degree or equivalent. It is designed to address skill gaps in the U.S. workforce while ensuring wage standards to protect both U.S. and H-1B workers. Employers must certify that they will pay H-1B workers wages equal to or greater than those of similarly qualified U.S. employees or the prevailing local wage.
The average approval rate for H-1B petitions across the United States in 2024 stood at 98%, slightly higher than 2023's 97.3%. Locally, employers across all industries located within the Santa Fe Standard publication area submitted 125 petitions during the same period, achieving an approval rate of 100%.
While the Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services industry led the H-1B filings with 89 petitions, representing 71.2% of all submissions in the Santa Fe Standard publication area during 2024, the next largest contributor was the Educational Services industry, which accounted for 20 petitions and represented 16% of the total. Among petitions from employers in the Educational Services industry, all were approved.
Compared to 2023, the Information sector in the Santa Fe Standard publication area saw an unchanged number of H-1B petitions during 2024.
The United States admits around 1 million legal immigrants annually, most of whom receive permanent residence (green cards) through family sponsorship or employment-based visas. In 2023, about 1.2 million immigrants were granted green cards, a return to pre-pandemic levels. Temporary visa programs, such as the H-1B for highly skilled workers and H-2A for seasonal agricultural workers, also play a critical role in filling workforce needs.
Public opinion on immigration varies, with 46% of Americans favoring maintaining current legal immigration levels, according to a 2024 Pew Research Center survey. Additionally, 42% believe that highly skilled workers, such as scientists, doctors, and programmers, should be prioritized for legal immigration, compared to 25% who prioritize workers filling labor shortages and 19% who emphasize family sponsorship. Despite this, family sponsorship remains the most common path to permanent residency, accounting for 63% of green cards issued in 2023.
The data in this article comes from the H-1B Employer Data Hub provided by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). While USCIS strives for accuracy, manual data entry and errors on paper forms submitted by applicants or petitioners may result in discrepancies in employer names, tax IDs, locations, or other details.
| Rank | Industry | Total Petitions | % of All Submissions | % Approved | % Denied |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 89 | 71.2% | 100% | 0% |
| 2 | Educational Services | 20 | 16% | 100% | 0% |
| 3 | Public Administration | 7 | 5.6% | 100% | 0% |
| 4 | Finance and Insurance | 4 | 3.2% | 100% | 0% |
| 5 | Information | 2 | 1.6% | 100% | 0% |
| 6 | Other Services (except Public Administration) | 1 | 0.8% | 100% | 0% |
| 6 | Manufacturing | 1 | 0.8% | 100% | 0% |
| 6 | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 0.8% | 100% | 0% |
| Company Name | Industry | Total Petitions | % Approved | % Denied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Triad National Security, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 83 | 100% | 0% |
| Santa Fe Public Schools | Educational Services | 12 | 100% | 0% |
| Espanola Public Schools | Educational Services | 5 | 100% | 0% |
| Thornburg Investment Management in | Finance and Insurance | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| Office of the State Engineer-Interstate Stream Commission | Public Administration | 3 | 100% | 0% |
| New Mexico Higher Education Department | Public Administration | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Northern New Mexico College | Public Administration | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Time and Space Hub | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 2 | 100% | 0% |
| Mercury Bio, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| New Mexico Consortium | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| New Mexico Institute of Mining and | Educational Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Noiseaware, Inc. | Information | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Mccurdy Charter School | Educational Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Quivira Coalition | Other Services (except Public Administration) | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Santa Fe Preparatory School | Educational Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Flow Science, Inc. | Information | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Sceye, Inc. | Manufacturing | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| St. Vincent Hospital | Health Care and Social Assistance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Hoopes Architects, LLC | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Trait Biosciences USA, Inc. | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1 | 100% | 0% |
| Homewise, Inc. | Finance and Insurance | 1 | 100% | 0% |
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